Rotary safe leak valve



Feb- 4,l 1969 J. c. BLACKETT 3,425,597

ROTARY SAFE LEAK VALVE Filed .July 21. 1966 .A FIG. Mm

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'- AccuMuLAToR INVENTOR. JAMES C. BLACKETT ATTORNEY.

United States Patent O 3,425,597 ROTARY SAFE LEAK VALVE James C. Blackett, St. Louis Park, Minn., assignor to Honeywell Inc., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 21, 1966, Ser. No. 566,882 U.S. Cl. 222-3 Int. Cl. G01f 11/42; B67d 5/20, 5/02 3 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE My invention is concerned with a safe leak valve of the dynamic type wherein a valving member continuously rotates to cause the fluid being valved to sequentially pass from an inlet area to an accumulator area and then from the accumulator area to an outlet area. My invention is an improvement over the copending application of Loren L. Krueger, Ser. No. 566,907, led July 21, 1966, in that my structure provides a concentric rotary-type safe leak valve.

A rotary safe leak valve constructed in accordance with the teachings of my invention requires dynamic operation such that the failing or stopping of the valve in any position discontinues the flow of fluid through the valve. The rotary valving member first allows uid to ow from an inlet area to an accumulator area, while blocking ilow of iluid from the accumulator area to an outlet area. Thereafter, the fluid which has fbeen accumulated in the accumulator area is allowed to ow to the outlet area, while flow vfrom the inlet area to the accumulator area is blocked. The communication between these three areas is accomplished by means of a seal structure which allows movement of the rotary valve member. The seal structure is constructed and arranged such that any leakage of the tluid, as occasioned by wear and the like, is away from the flow path. Thus, failure of any type will n-ot result in uncontrolled flow of iluid from the inlet area to the outlet area.

FIGURE 1 is a side View, partially broken away, showing the relationship of the inlet area, the outlet area, and the accumulator area to the rotary valving means, and

FIGURE 2 is a cross-section view of the structure of FIGURE l, taken along line 2-2 thereof `wherein the structure is not broken away.

`Referring to FIGURE 1, reference numeral designates an inlet conduit which is adapted to be connected to a source of uid under pressure, in this case a compressible fluid such as gas to be used with a fuel burner, reference numeral 11 indicaties an outlet conduit which is adapted to be connected to a utilization means, for example, a burner.

iConduit 10 is connected to an inlet area 12 whereas conduit 11 is connected to an outlet area 13. Areas 12 and 13 are defined by cup-like structures having terminating rectangular flanges 14 and 1'5 respectively. Flanges l14 and 15 are formed with rectangular recesses receiving O-ring seal structures 16 and 17 respectively. Seals 16 and 17 cooperate with rotary val-ving member 18 Iwhich is rotatable about a central axis upon energization of motor 19. Valving member 18 is provided with three-spaced openings, 20, 21, and 22 as best seen in FIGURE 2.

Reference numeral 25 identities the general structure of an accumulator area, the accumulator including a donut-shaped housing 26. Accumulator area 25 includes internal base-like areas 40 and 41, which are adapted to connect the accumulator to the inlet area 12 and the outlet area 13 respectively. Each of the base-like portitns 40 and 41 terminates at a rectangular flange 27 and 28, respectively. Flanges 27 and 28 are formed with rectangular recesses receiving O-ring seal structures 30 and y56 respectively.

The rotary safe leak valve of my invention is shown in FIGURE 1 with rotary valving member 18 in position such that inlet area 12 communicates with portion 40 of the accumulator 25. Thus, fluid under pressure can flow into accumulator 25. At the same time, as can be seen in FIGURE 2, a solid portion of valving member 1,8 blocks communication between accumulator 25 and outlet area 13. As rotation of valving member 18 continues, opening 22 in the valving member moves to a position wherein the accumulator area communicates with outlet area 13 Aand the accumulated fluid tlows to the outlet conduit 1.1. At that same time, valving member 18 fhas moved into position to block communication from the inlet area to the accumulator area.

If it is desired to valve a non-compressible uid, a bellows-type chamber can be incorporated as part of the accumulator area.

The rarea designated by reference numerals `60, 61, Iand 62 of FIGURE 2, are exposed to the ambient atmosphere surrounding the valve. Any leakage of fluid past the various sealing means is to the areas 60-62 and no leakage occurs from inlet area 12 to outlet area 13. The structure of my invention provides a rotary valving member wherein dynamic rotation of the valving member is necessary for continuous ilow of fluid from inlet conduit 10' to outlet conduit 11. Should the valving member stop inany position, the communication between these conduits is interrupted. I-f a leak results, all leak paths are away from the flow path and uncontrolled ow between conduits 10 and 11 does not result.

I claim as my invention:

1. A safe leak valve of the type having means refining a flow path including an inlet area, an accumulator area, and an outlet area, the improvement comprising:

a rotary valving member adapted to continuously rotate and including flow control means to sequentially allow ow between said inlet area and said accumulator area while blocking flow between said accumulator area and said outlet area, and to then allow flow between said accumulator `area and said outlet area while blocking flo-w between said inlet area and said accumulator area,

means operably connected to said -valving member for continuously rotating said valving member,

and a plurality of sealing means; each one of `which cooperates with only one of said areas and with said valving member, s-uch that al1 leakage through said sealing means is away from said flow path.

2. A valve as defined in claim 1 wherein said inlet area, said accumulator area, and said outlet area have structurally separated ange areas, each flange cooperating with said valving member through one of said plurality of sealing means, such that leakage through said sealing means is away from said ow path.

3. A Ivalve as defined in claim 1 wherein said valving member is in the form of a hollow cylinder which is rotatable about an axis; wherein said inlet and outlet areas are defined by a pair of separated housings disposed `within said cylinder, each of said housing including a separate flange which engages the inside surface of said cylinder; and wherein said accumulator area includes two References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1929 Larsen 137-625.21 6/1966 I eask 137-625.24

FOREIGN PATENTS 493,786 10/1938 Great Britain.

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

U.S. C1. X.R. 222--452 

